The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-15
IaE GOVERNORS aEssAGE-CON-
vU(yrS
Gov. Bates message states tn At the re


Gov. Bates message states that thtr
were on the prison rolls December /,
1885, 1915 convicts, 21l fewer than in
1885, end 107 fewer than in 1884. OF
these SOL were in the penitentiary,
snd leased out at Tracy City, Inman
and Coal Creek 655. During the last
TWO years the lessees have paid the
State for the use OF the convicts as
labOreis 100000. The physicians
certificate states that the death rate
nj the penltentisry has decreased ard
mas been much lower during the past
two years. This looks as II the public
agitation upon the subject had not
been in vain, and that agitation an
paTently did good in other ways, for
the message states that, from the
ofics, reports and from peraonal in
spsc!ioD, he finds "a marked improve
ment in the management and dis
cipline OF the main prison and
its branches. | can
not commend too highly the present
management of the main prison and
its branches" The branches" we
presume, are the three squads Of leased
ont prisoners. Here occurs an omis-
sion the public will regret. There is
much feeling in the State against the
system OF leasing out convicts as i'm
polite toward the prisoners and I'M
just toward free labor. No reference
liz made to this branch Of the subject
jim the message, although the people
and the press have devoted consider
able discussion to it. /! would havs
bsen emineDtly proper to invite tho
attention OF the Legislature TO the
matter, and some practical recon-.
mendstions upon the point would
have been useful. The whole matter
10 one in which Tennesses is "behind
the epirit Of the age" and the practice Of
several prominent States. The next
topic the Governor treats upon is a
new instance, among others, OF tho
impolicy and evil Of the lease system.
The message says that an act was
passed at the last session OF the Legis-
lsture authorizing the Communication Of
the sentences oil we'll behaved con-
victs, the lessees TO agree rs to the in
duCement for good conduct being ex-
tended to those under their charge.
In reply to inquiries by the Governor,
the lessees refuse 10 allow the men in
their charge 10 receive the benefit Of
the Legislatures wise and benefcent
provision, unless the State will agree
to credit in their favor to cover the
losses they would sustain" Here we
have the fruit Of the odioos leasing
system In all its perniciousness.
The moral influence the Communication
system has upon the convict 10 to be
Lost, because the taskm asters require
their victims To render the tale Of
bricks, although they withhold the
straw. Were these mems eyes not
blinded by that narrow selfishness that
q dime over each Of them will hide all
that lie good and beautiful in the
world, they would know that the In
ducement to good conduct by COM
mutation Of sentence would pay them
better than the Pharaoh-like driving
system that refuses the employment
OF any other motive than results from
brute force. The message, however,
makes no alusion to this Objectionable
result OF the lease system, Such evil
dence as this discredltable fact sup
plies will not fail to have its effect
upon the minds Of the people OF Ten
nessee, whose knowledge of the in
famous abuses that were prac:icsd at
the coal mines has disguised them
with system that outrages the moral
sentiment Of every good citizsn.